As minister of road transport and highways, and shipping, Nitin Gadkari runs a highly visible and critical ministry in the Narendra Modi government, but has — surprisingly — shown an averseness to the spotlight. He does talk occasionally to the press, as he did earlier this week about the prime minister asking him to prepare a policy to promote clean fuel. There is also the customary speech at government functions. Not to forget the odd...

ALIGARH: Noted historian Irfan Habib has rubbished critics of Mahatma Gandhi , including some western authors, saying their criticism is not based on history. "The amount of criticism heaped on the Mahatma, especially in the last few months, was simply not based on history," Habib said while delivering a lecture on "Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian Nation" last evening. "If we want to truly understand Gandhi's contribution to the building of modern India, then we...

MUMBAI: Modern India Ltd on Tuesday said it has acquired 100 per cent holding of Indian Institute of Jewellery Ltd (IIJ), which will become its wholly owned subsidiary. The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that IIJ would carry out the business of vocational training in areas of jewellery. The shares of the company closed at Rs 86, up 4.75 per cent on the BSE.

MUMBAI: Modern India Ltd on Tuesday said it has entered into a shareholders agreement with manufacturers and retailers of diamond and gold jewellery, Gitanjali Gems Ltd to form a Joint Venture (JV). As per the shareholders agreement the company would form a JV by way of subscription to equal number of equity shares of another company, Modali Distributors Pvt Ltd, Modern India informed the Bombay Stock Exchange. The joint venture company would look after the distribution of jewellery...

MUMBAI: Only a handful of the 13,000 investors said to have lost Rs 5,600 crore in the National Spot Exchange (NSEL) scam have come forward to claim their money. The Bombay high court in September 2014 had set up a three-member committee, headed by retired Justice VC Daga , to determine the money to be paid by the alleged defaulters in the NSEL scam . The committee had set a deadline of February 25 for the 13,000 investors to claim their money....

As minister of road transport and highways, and shipping, Nitin Gadkari runs a highly visible and critical ministry in the Narendra Modi government, but has — surprisingly — shown an averseness to the spotlight. He does talk occasionally to the press, as he did earlier this week about the prime minister asking him to prepare a policy to promote clean fuel. There is also the customary speech at government functions....

MUMBAI: Modern India Ltd has identified land at Panvel for setting up a free trade warehousing zone. The company has made an application to the government of Maharashtra and also to the ministry of commerce & industry. The company is acquiring up to 300 acres of land at Panvel at a total cost of Rs 375 crore, to be met through equity capital, debt and internal accruals. Proximity to Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and other large-scale infrastructure...

In 2011, India had 400 million internal migrants, a full third of its population, according to an estimate cited in a recent UN report, Social Inclusion of Internal Migrants in India. This represents mobility for the sake of livelihood, often seasonal. Reports say that 70-80% of migrants are women — marriage transfers them from the father's home to the husband's — likely to face harsh conditions and exploitation at work. Mobility has its advantages...

Brand India is currently receiving a lot of positive press. Yet Brand India is weak in many ways. In the minds of most citizens of developed countries, India still conjures up images of exotic lands and customs, or masses of poor. Not surprisingly, this a source of much frustration to Indians who would prefer that Brand India be associated with the more modern India, resplendent with world-class businesses, skyscrapers , and malls. Why does this image of "old India"...

MUMBAI: National Spot Exchange Investors Forum (NIF) may join a representative suit as co-plaintiffs filed by Modern India against the defunct spot exchange and its promoter, among others, if the Bombay High Court admits it on January 15, an NIF source said. The suit is similar to a class action suit where plaintiffs have a common cause of action. "We can take a call on becoming co-plaintiffs if the court admits the representative suit," said a...

The library-cum-office room used by Prof Ramesh C Bhardwaj is testimony of one man's love for a language. The room has a number of well-used steel almirahs that store hundreds of wornout texts on Sanskrit, grammar, literature and other such. The tall, soft-spoken professor with his greying hair neatly parted at the middle fits in with the ambience of the room. Bhardwaj heads the Sanskrit department at the Delhi University and has...

COLOMBO: India will work closely with the new Sri Lankan government led by Maithripala Sirisena - whose victory was a tribute to Lankan people's yearning for change - to take bilateral ties to a new level, the Indian High Commissioner Y K Sinha said today. Addressing the celebrations of the 66th Indian Republic Day held at India House here, Sinha said India stands ready to continue to provide support and partnership to Sri Lanka in realising its people's...

PITHORAGARH: Asking party workers to unite against forces ignoring the contribution of Nehru and Gandhi to the freedom movement, AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni has said a Congressman whose blood "does not boil" at the statements of those dreaming of a Congress-free India is not a true partyman. "A Congress worker whose blood does not boil after hearing statements of those who have vowed to make India Congress-free is not a true...

The library-cum-office room used by Prof Ramesh C Bhardwaj is testimony of one man's love for a language. The room has a number of well-used steel almirahs that store hundreds of wornout texts on Sanskrit, grammar, literature and other such. The tall, soft-spoken professor with his greying hair neatly parted at the middle fits in with the ambience of the room. Bhardwaj heads the Sanskrit department at the Delhi University and has spent...

NEW DELHI: Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today travelled by Delhi Metro to reach his office after attending an event in Gurgaon. Official sources said Javadekar took train from Guru Dronacharya metro station in evening and disembarked at Jor Bagh, which is close to his Paryavaran Bhawan office. Javadekar is a frequent commuter of Airport Metro Express and travels by it when he has to catch a flight from the IGI Airport, they...

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said changing the name of the Planning Commission was a cheap gimmick. "Renaming the Planning Commission is an attempt to belittle the contribution of Jawaharlal Nehru , the architect of modern India," Gogoi tweeted today. People are not "concerned with the name, but with the substance and just changing the name of the Planning Commission was just a cheap gimmick," he said. The Planning...

MUMBAI: Only a handful of the 13,000 investors said to have lost Rs 5,600 crore in the National Spot Exchange (NSEL) scam have come forward to claim their money. The Bombay high court in September 2014 had set up a three-member committee, headed by retired Justice VC Daga , to determine the money to be paid by the alleged defaulters in the NSEL scam . The committee had set a deadline of February 25 for the 13,000 investors to claim their money....

By Pia Heikkila Afew weeks ago, a friend from my native Finland called me. "How can you live in such a horrific place where women get raped all the time?" She was referring to the gang rape of a Danish tourist in Delhi — a place I call my home. Inevitably, I defended my city. "There are just more rapes reported now than ever before. " "It's a country of 650 million men — not all of them are rapists. " She wasn't convinced....

NEW DELHI: Political leaders cutting across party lines today welcomed government's decision to confer Bharat Ratna on freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malviya and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Vajpayee's long-time political colleague L K Advani said he was happy with the government decision to bestow the highest civilian award to the former Prime Minister. "I am very happy that Government has decided to honour Atal ji with Bharat Ratna. " ...

NEW DELHI: Existing institutions have to be revitalized from time to time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today and hailed President Pranab Mukherjee's contribution in this regard as an inspiration for all Indians. Modi, while attending the inauguration of the Ceremonial Hall at the President's Estate here, said the Rashtrapati Bhavan has become a symbol of India's pride across the world. He referred to the inauguration of the Rashtrapati Bhavan museum...